The dilemma

Pete is wondering if he should make the move from his 2005 Mazda3, mostly because he wants to avoid any old-car issues, but he wouldn’t mind more contemporary levels of phone and music connectivity either. He won’t have much more to spend than he gets for the 3 so reckons a used city-sized hatch could be ideal. If replacing the Mazda is worth the bother at all, that is.

The budget

About $12,000

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The shortlist

Moving up to a new car is all well and good but if your current car isn’t a mechanical or financial liability there’s no shame in sticking with what you’ve got.

It’s certainly something we wouldn’t discount if we owned a car as reliable and long-lived as 3. Indeed, this respondent does actually own a 3 (well, half owns) and has grappled with a similar dilemma – after 250,000 often abusive kays it continues to chug along with little more than the minimum prescribed maintenance, so is staying put for now.

Pete, though might just feel it’s time for a change, want the peace of mind of a new-car warranty and capped-price servicing or be unwilling to go without contemporary kit any longer. If so, these three sub-$15k hatches should hit the spot.

2013-on Fiat 500 Pop, from $11,110*

This Fiat is a bit squeezy in the back, has a tiny boot and just three doors. Its Bluetooth only streams phone calls (though the stereo has USB/auxiliary inputs) and doesn’t offer the security of capped-price servicing.

The cabin, too, has the odd ergonomic kerfuffle and the optional automatic (really an automated manual) isn’t the smoothest around.

So why bother? Well, the base 500 offers a path to new-car smell, security, features and contemporary safety without having to give up on flair or appeal. It’s agile, willing, economical, surprisingly fun to drive and looks and feels totally unique. With 2013 models with tiny odometer counts kicking around this budget range, it’s also great value.

2013-on Mitsubishi Mirage, from $9790*

A spacious cabin, decent boot, five-door access, smooth CVT auto option and Bluetooth music streaming (not just for phone calls) make this an easier car to live with than the Fiat.

Its rational advantage is bolstered by a long five-year warranty (the other cars here are only covered for three) and four-year capped-price servicing plan. Just like its Italian rival, spiffy examples with next to nothing on the odometer aren’t hard to find in this price range.

But drivers looking for more than just getting from A to B may bemoan the Mirage’s downmarket cabin vibe, clunky manual shift and only satisfactory ride and handling. Its 1.2 three-cylinder engine, while flexible and thrifty, isn’t as willing or smooth as the Fiat’s 1.2-litre four-potter.

2012-on Volkswagen Up!, from $10,010*

Decent space, a practical five-door option and six-year capped-servicing regime make this VW more sensible than the Fiat, yet with its agile, assured road manners and perky 1.0-litre three-cylinder it’s more fun than the Mitsubishi.

That makes it a potentially ideal if you can’t choose between that pair, while its surprisingly mature on-road demeanour and low-speed crash-avoidance technology are unique and tempting assets here.

The VW, though, is also the only car here to do without an auto option, curtain airbags for rear occupants and standard Bluetooth. On the positive side, optioning Bluetooth got you sat nav and a trip computer as well – with plenty of buyers ticking the box for it, you shouldn’t have to settle for a ‘nude’ one.

Rationally, the Mitsubishi cannot be budged out of a winning position. Its space, practicality, no-headaches auto option, fully fledged Bluetooth setup, long warranty and capped-servicing plan ensure its victory, even if it’s not the best city car to drive, sit in or look at.

Buyers, however, who lends greater weight to emotional satisfaction in their decision-making process may well find the 500 and Up! more their cup of tea.

Which one? Well, if you can handle a manual gearbox and lack of curtain airbags in the back the VW’s more practical body, stronger ownership prospects and unique safety features just get it to the line first. If you can’t, you might want to take your chances on a thoroughly endearing, if far from perfect, little Fiat.

* Values are estimates provided by Glass’s Guide based on an example averaging up to 20,000km per annum and in a well-maintained condition relevant to its age.

6 comments so far

Late model Hyundai i20 should be on this list. No fuss motoring, capped servicing, long warranty, etc,etc...

You can still pick up 2012 VW Up! brand "new" (if you call a car that has spent 2 yrs in storage on the docks/holding yards as "new" - they are your $11k ones) - gives you an idea of the popularity of them. Under powered, under specced (as noted) and overpriced after taking on the road prices into account on a 2013/14 model (circa $14-15K)

Commenter

The truth

Location

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February 15, 2014, 10:22AM

Indian made car? No thank you, I value my life.

Commenter

Lazor

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Date and time

February 17, 2014, 1:15PM

Honda Jazz is a reliable small car that is extremely large inside for it's exterior dimensions - having your cake and eating it. I've had two, never a problem.

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Tin

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February 16, 2014, 10:16AM

Stick with the 3. The 2001 Laser I have (basically previous model 323) is still bulletproof at 205,000kms. Should be good for 250,000kms plus. Just keep up with the maintenance, don't cheap out on oil changes etc. just because the book value is sub $10k.

2005 isn't old for a Japanese or Australian cars. European cars (with some notable exceptions of course) on the other hand are starting to ascend an exponential ownership cost curve at 8 years of age. Best left for the enthusiasts. Mazda 3 is one of the best models for reliability - why get rid of it? If you must "sidegrade", for my money, the Mirage, no prizes for guessing why.

Commenter

addy

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perth

Date and time

February 17, 2014, 12:54AM

It's crazy buying something new at that price, you might as well get something a bit better second-hand will low k's and better features/safety. Look at that Mitsubishi thing, made so cheap it even has 90's door locks on the outside; must be easy to break in to. Would you honestly want someone you care about to be driving one of these tin cans every day? I wouldn't.

Commenter

Problem?

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February 17, 2014, 9:52AM

If you must have something newer at this point in time I would say an Update Corolla from the 2010 to 2012 Model Season Just take the time to find a good one.An update from 2009/2010 Focus is another way to go.I didn't know this at the time when the 3 and the Focus were New and that is they shared the same Platform as the Volvo S40 AND V50.Which is a 40 Grand Prestige Car and thanks to Sweden we have a lot of safety features unheard of.I wouldn't go for any of these little cars at any price.Someone rams you unfortunately in the back and it's a trip to the Hospital in am ambulance in addition to the towing or drive to the crash repairs and the forms to do.I had a 2006 Tiida that someone unfortunately ran up the back of with a 2003 Mazda Protege 323 SP20 AND NO DAMAGES Except for them paying my excess and me paying for the use of a loan car from the repairers for a week.So nothing smaller than a Corolla class car would be my best bet.